DALTON, Ga. — By next week, the media in Dalton will be missing two of their point people: Dalton/Whitfield spokeswoman Brooke Bennett and Dalton Police public relations specialist Kristy Hunter.

Both had been on the job for less than a year, and both employees worked in television news before taking jobs with the city of Dalton.

Ms. Hunter resigned earlier this month for another public relations job closer to her home in Chattanooga; Ms. Bennett is moving back to Grand Rapids, Mich., because of an illness in her family.

Ms. Bennett, whose last day is Friday, was the first-ever communications director for both Dalton and Whitfield County. A former reporter for WDNN in Dalton and WDEF News 12 in Chattanooga, Ms. Bennett “hit the ground running” in this brand-new position, said City Administrator Butch Sanders.

“She just knew what the media needed and she had things ready to go ahead of time,” he said.

Mr. Sanders added, referring to the media, “I think she was very understanding of your needs — and of your time frame.”

For her part, Ms. Hunter was the first civilian hired to work in public relations for the Dalton Police Department.

She had previously spent two years producing the 11 p.m. newscast at WDEF News 12 in Chattanooga.

City officials have considered hiring one public relations professional to handle media requests for both the city and the police department, Mr. Sanders said. “But, we don’t know for sure yet,” he added.

Meanwhile, the police have already placed an ad for their second-ever civilian public relations specialist.

“We believe there are plenty of qualified candidates,” said Police Chief Jason Parker, in an e-mail message, “but we are not limiting our choices to only the Chattanooga/Dalton market.”